Don't Cosplay with My Heart

October 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Edan Kupferman, self-described nerd is thrilled that her favorite comic book, Team Tomorrow, is about to be turned into a movie. Unfortunately, her dad is dealing with a not-so-small legal problem and putting everyone on edge. Edan makes the best of the situation by donning a mask and learning how to cosplay, even starting a club at school with her lesbian best friend Kasumi. As she navigates the world of geekdom, she encounters male figures who put her down as fake or not nerdy enough. Castelluci writes that, "everyone is a nerd about something," because everyone has something they're passionate about. Edan looks to her favorite character Gargantua for empowerment, imagining herself, like her hero, growing in size in times of conflict. She hides behind her mask and struggles with her feelings, not just about her father but about two guys she is torn between. This contemporary coming-of-age novel appropriate for younger YA readers is filled with all things nerd: cosplay, comics, and conventions. Short chapters interspersed with information on Team Tomorrow make this a quick pick and good choice for reluctant readers. Characters are fully formed with unique identities and Edan undergoes tremendous growth. The plot is at times heavy-handed with obvious foreshadowing leading to an unsurprising but satisfying conclusion. For those who enjoyed Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde or Geekerella by Ashley Poston. VERDICT An entertaining selection filled with vivid characters; for general purchase where geek is chic.-Rebecca Greer, Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, FL

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2017
A teen copes with home-life troubles by cosplaying her favorite comic-book character.Edan Kupferman's father is being sequestered during an inquiry into shifty accounting at his workplace. Needing an escape from reality, she heads to the Angeles Comic Con for a panel with the cast from the upcoming film of her favorite comic, Team Tomorrow. (Between chapters, history and analysis of the fictional comic book are given, including parallels to Edan's life.) At the con, she connects with her crush, Yuri, whose friends constantly quiz her to check her nerd-cred. In fact, Edan struggles throughout against geek sexism, objecting to the "fake geek girl" label and telling a male jerk that "cosplay is not content." A costume contest to be an extra in the movie's sequel prompts Edan to start a cosplay club at school. One member is Spanish-speaking Kirk Gomez, who is Han Solo-handsome and ethical enough for one of Yuri's goon friends to accuse him of being a "social justice warrior." Edan tries to ignore both Yuri's complacency in the sexism she faces and her growing connection with Kirk in a frustrating love triangle. A final plot twist that coincides with the revelation of her father's troubles is engrossing, but its resolution's glossed over in favor of the inevitable romantic conclusion. Edan and Yuri seem to be white, though people of color populate the diverse secondary cast.This authentically geeky and feminist romance nails the con scene. (Fiction. 12-16)

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November 20, 2017
In this introspective drama, a young woman seeks refuge from her dysfunctional life by cosplaying as her favorite comic book character. As hero and occasional villain Gargantua, Edan Kupferman feels confident enough to handle anything, including her father’s legal troubles. But as she immerses herself in costuming and conventions, she has to put up with toxic fandom and accusations of being a fake geek girl. Edan’s boyfriend turns out to be a jerk, but her new friend Kirk seems to really get her—and she’ll need all the help she can get as her father seems poised to go to jail. Castellucci (Stone in the Sky) infuses this story with a deep and abiding love of comics culture, while simultaneously addressing real sexism within the community. Interspersed passages detail the history of Gargantua’s series, Team Tomorrow (Castellucci takes some minor liberties, giving her team an African-American hero years before Marvel’s Black Panther showed up, for example), and the underlying themes of confidence, self-reliance, and feminism come through with a strength worthy of Gargantua herself. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit.

October 15, 2017
Grades 7-10 With her family life going to pieces, Edan needs something to occupy her time during summer and give her life a bit of direction. Her first, intoxicating dose of relief comes from attending her very first comic convention, dressed as Gargantua, her favorite character from Team Tomorrow. From there she resolves to learn how to sew so she can make an amazing costume that'll blow everyone else's out of the water at San Diego Comic-Con. While she's trying to do that, she's also dealing with feelings toward the nerdy boys around her, and channeling Gargantua more and more as she realizes she has the power of determination over her life. Castellucci is no stranger to nerdom, having grown up on comics and even recently cowriting a Star Wars story. While this story itself is fiction, it'll absolutely ring true for geeks and nerds everywhere, especially girls who endure mansplaining and are frequently challenged by their male peers in fandom. The good news is, once you find your people and learn to just do you, it's all good.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)